Agency Request Legislation

The Gambling Commission staff will be presenting agency request legislation to our Commissioners, at their request, for their final review at the agency’s upcoming September Commission Meeting. This legislation would authorize the Gambling Commission to create rules for a state-wide self-exclusion program for licensed card rooms and also create a process for Tribal operations to voluntarily opt into the program. Similar legislation—HB 2332 and SB 6331—was supported by the Commission during the 2018 session.

The Gambling Commission will develop the process and scope of the program through rule-making and will have until June 30, 2021 to finalize the rules for the program. Additionally, information obtained by the Commission under this program will be exempt from disclosure under the Public Records Act. The goal is to create a program where a person with a gambling problem or gambling disorder can submit a single form and voluntarily exclude themselves from some or all card rooms and casinos.

The agency and its Commissioners seek your input prior to our final review of the proposed bill language at our September 13-14, 2018 Commission Meeting in Spokane. If you would like to provide feedback regarding this proposed legislation, please visit our Public Comments page and submit your comments by Wednesday, September 5, 2018 at 5:00 p.m. Any comments or proposed changes will be distributed to the Commissioners for their consideration at their September Commission Meeting.